posted May 10, 2002 03:47 PM            

However, I am enraged at the ones I've recorded on CraneAccidents.com. I often wonder what those people are using for brains. I also wonder if they ever look up. I don't buy the old excuse of, "I knew the power line was there, but I forgot." Sir, that is a lame excuse and I don't buy it. You are being paid to remember and take proper precautions. If your memory is so short, maybe you should find another occupation that won't tax it so much.

That said, my next rantings are directed at project management. Do you people ever drive or walk through your projects with an eye to the sky? Sir, you too have a responsibility. It is to protect those you employ and supervise. If you know there are power lines on your project, and you should know, then you should mark them at ground level and take every precaution possible, and within reason, to protect your workers. Sir, you are also being paid to use your brain, so use it.

When I looked at the photo of the crane boom into the power line that happened in Auburn it made me furious.

I won't pass judgement, because I wasn't there, but from all indications the incident was totally avoidable. Good responsible project management would have made sure the power lines were properly marked and that the crane operator was well aware of their presense.

In addition to warning cones, barriades, flags and other warning devices, would it be too much to ask that a very alert flagmen be placed at such a location to help prevent such a tragedy?

LOOK UP AND LIVE!

Whew! I feel better!

Instead of listing the incident in our Crane Accidents Exclusive Service area, which is reserved for subscribers only, I decided to make it available for the entire online world to see. And, see it they will. Last month (April 2002) CraneAccidents.com recorded 872,588 hits.

Click here to see the story and aerial photo.

I also gave a Dummy Award to this incident and listed it on our Dummy Award page, a very high trafficked page frequented by most of those involved in the construction industry.